Logging upwards of a combined total of 160 hours of gameplay across two games over more than five months, it's taking me longer than I had anticipated (although that is by no means a bad thing), but I have finally completed the remastered version of Tomb Raider II!
While not as flawless a game from start to finish as Tomb Raider I, it's still an iconic classic, with a number of innovations (some that hit better than others). The traps are dialed up, Lara's got some new moves (including climbing ladders, wading in shallow water, riding ziplines, and launching precariously from springboards), as well as some new outfits (marvel at her wetsuit, and iconic bomber jacket). Flares are a welcome addition to light the many dark corners of this game (although I wish their light would show in camera mode), and I like the way secrets are newly implemented - three dragon statues (stone, jade, and gold) are located in every level; some of them are hard to find, while others lie in plain sight but require a mastery of Lara's agility to acquire. This time, I was able to find them all (AND collect every pickup in the game) on my first playthrough!
A valid criticism of this game is that it veers away from the dusty tombs Lara is known for raiding - it's less treasure hunting, and more infiltrating a secret society, with more urban environments, and a high encounter rate for goons and thugs. Aside from rats and dogs, there are long portions of this game where the only enemies you fight are human. Is it more difficult? Yeah. You're taking a lot more hits from long range gun damage, and sucking up a lot of health packs as a result. But I find I don't enjoy it as much. It's not as imaginative as the tigers and sharks and spiders (wait 'til you see the big one!) that attack you in the wild. However, I do like the addition of the harpoon gun - which you can shoot underwater. And using the grenade launcher to blow baddies into giblets may be gratuitous, but it's loads of fun!
To be fair, it's a novel experience careening through the canals of Venice in a motor boat (Lara's first vehicle!), and the Opera House is on par with (maybe even superior to) the Colosseum from Tomb Raider I. But my patience for vehicle travel began to wane when the snowmobile was introduced. Vehicles are reckless, and I tend to be methodical. You're blowing past a lot of scenery quickly, which is counterproductive to the aims of exploring your environment. Also, it tends to encourage long, simple passages instead of the intricate, criss-crossing architecture I like in these games.
On the other hand, the Maria Doria (an undersea shipwreck) is as cool as anything you can explore in any Tomb Raider game - the enormity of The Deck cannot be adequately conveyed by a screenshot. And the Tibetan levels return some of the atmosphere of Peru (while featuring the frightening introduction of the Yeti). I like how you can recruit the monks of Barkhang Monastery to help you fend off the mercenaries hunting you - but only if you aim your shots carefully!
Meanwhile, the run-up to the climax is truly unforgettable tomb raiding. The Temple of Xian is a sprawling underground fortress that feels suitably Indiana Jones-like, and is the epitome of what a great Tomb Raider level can be. The Floating Islands are wonderfully imaginative, leading to a spectacular final boss encounter. And as for the epilogue? Not to be crude, but (spoiler for the ending!) Lara wearing a bathrobe while defending herself during a home invasion fueled many an adolescent fantasy, once upon a time. Given how antagonistic Lara Croft's handlers are to the fabled nude code (for this game, they teased a button combination that, when entered, causes Lara to explode), you could almost forget that the character started out as a sex icon, back in the day when having a sex drive wasn't considered "problematic".
As a final note, the expansion levels (which I played for the first time) effectively combine industrial and snowy textures to construct a Russian outpost, although the atmosphere of these levels is (however appropriate) very bleak. The fun only really begins after you retrieve the Golden Mask. I appreciated the heavy touch of Midas, and the opportunity to explore Bigfoot's tree house. And the Vegas-themed secret bonus level was a hoot!
After I collect a few more badges, I'm looking forward to moving on to the exciting locations featured in Tomb Raider III - including jungles, tropical islands, Area 51, and Antarctica! I'll be sad when it's all done, though...
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